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Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

111 Colleges
$4,949 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$28,497 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You

In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #3 most popular in the country.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 111 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Haskell Indian Nations University the best value school in the Plains States Region for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Haskell is a fairly small public school located in the small city of Lawrence.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Haskell Indian Nations University Report

$3,780 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lincoln.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Southeast Community College take out is $11,000.

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$3,570 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Highland Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Highland Community College are $3,570 a year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Highland Community College take out $11,728 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#4

Leech Lake Tribal College

Cass Lake, MN
$3,926 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Leech Lake Tribal College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Cass Lake, Leech Lake Tribal College is a public school with a small student population.

Leech Lake Tribal College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,926 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Leech Lake Tribal College

$4,680 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Metropolitan Community College is a great value for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. MCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Omaha.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $4,680 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $9,053.

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#6

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, MN

With a ranking of #6, North Hennepin Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at North Hennepin Community College take out an average of $15,625 in student loans while working on their egree.

North Hennepin Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Hennepin Community College

Anoka-Ramsey Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $5,515 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus carry an average student debtload of $13,000.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus also is in the top 5% of our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Report

#8

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

With a ranking of #8, Johnson County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. JCCC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Overland Park.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at JCCC are $5,352 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $10,000 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Johnson County Community College Report

Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Rochester.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Rochester Community and Technical College take out an average of $15,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

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St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public college with a small student population.

St Cloud Technical and Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,874 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at St Cloud Technical and Community College take out is $14,250.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at St Cloud Technical and Community College

#11

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, MN

Normandale Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Normandale Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,789 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Normandale Community College take out is $12,620.

In addition to its great value ranking, Normandale Community College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Normandale Community College

$6,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Northland Community and Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Northland Community and Technical College take out $13,200 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northland Community and Technical College

#13

Garden City Community College

Garden City, KS
$4,020 Average Tuition & Fees

Garden City Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the remote town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Garden City Community College are $4,020 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Garden City Community College take out is $6,476.

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#14

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN
$5,907 Average Tuition & Fees

Century College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 per year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Century College take out an average of $14,376 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Century College Report

#15

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE
$4,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 per year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Central Community College carry an average student debtload of $8,466.

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$3,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Cloud County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #16 on the list. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 a year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Cloud County Community College take out an average of $10,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cloud County Community College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
17 Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA
18 Labette Community College Parsons, KS
19 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
20 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN
21 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS
22 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS

Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kansas 6,339
Minnesota 6,264
Iowa 5,966
South Dakota 222
Missouri 8,280
Nebraska 1,612
North Dakota 953

Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts General Studies 556,813

Related Major Annual Graduates
Visual & Performing Arts 149,215
English Language & Literature 54,635
Foreign Languages & Linguistics 33,333
Theology & Religious Vocations 27,459
Philosophy & Religious Studies 19,993

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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